Microsoft Security Bulletin (MS00-035)

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Microsoft Security Bulletin (MS00-035)
- --------------------------------------

Patch Available for "SQL Server 7.0 Service Pack Password"
Vulnerability

May 30, 2000

Summary
=======
Microsoft has released a patch that eliminates a security
vulnerability in Microsoft(r) SQL Server(r) 7.0 Service Packs 1 and 2
installation routine. When run on a machine that is configured in a
non-recommended mode, the routines record the administrator password
in a log file, where it could be read by any user who could log onto
the server at the keyboard.

Frequently asked questions regarding this vulnerability and
the patch can be found at
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/fq00-035.asp

Issue
=====
When SQL Server 7.0 Service Packs 1 or 2 are installed on a machine
that is configured to perform authentication using Mixed Mode, the
password for the SQL Server standard security System Administrator
(sa) account is recorded in plaintext in the file \%TEMP%\sqlsp.log.
The default permissions on the file would allow any user to read it
who could log onto the server interactively.

The password is only recorded if Mixed Mode is used, and even then,
only if the adminstrator chose to use SQL Server Authentication when
installing the service pack. Microsoft has long recommended that SQL
servers be configured to use the more secure Windows NT Authentication
Mode, and customers who have followed this recommendation would not be
affected. Even on affected machines, the password could not be
compromised if, per normal security recommendations, normal users are
prevented from logging onto the machine interactively.

Affected Software Versions
==========================
 - Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 Service Packs 1 and 2

Patch Availability
==================
 - Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 Service Pack 2:
   http://www.microsoft.com/Downloads/Release.asp?ReleaseID=21546

Note: Additional security patches are available at the Microsoft
Download Center

More Information
================
Please see the following references for more information related to
this issue.
 - Frequently Asked Questions: Microsoft Security Bulletin MS00-035,
   http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/fq00-035.asp
 - Microsoft Knowledge Base article Q263968 discusses this issue
   and will be available soon.
 - Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 Security,
   http://www.microsoft.com/technet/SQL/Technote/secure.asp.
 - Microsoft TechNet Security web site,
   http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/default.asp

Obtaining Support on this Issue
===============================
This is a fully supported patch. Information on contacting Microsoft
Technical Support is available at
http://support.microsoft.com/support/contact/default.asp.

Acknowledgments
===============
Microsoft thanks Gordon Newman of PeopleSoft for reporting this issue
to us and working with us to protect customers.

Revisions
=========
 - May 30, 2000: Bulletin Created.

- --------------------------------------------------------

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Last Updated May 30,2000

(c) 2000 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of use.

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